Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-06-24
ONLY AN 0UTCAST.
BY GEORGE START.

with tne JrOuSerSs lebs tuCheu Caie-
lessly in bis boot tops; the boots
were worn out, through which his
toes protruded; an old slouched hat
covered his head. A very dirty, sun
burnt face, and high forehead on
which deprivation and exposure had
left its mark; and as he moved along
the street OF the village of K
with a detected air and with shuff,
ling, sbambling gait, the well-dressed
people instinctively shrunk from him,
as they passed, and by their looks
wondered how man could become
so low and degraded. A more repul-
sive looking specimen of humanity it
would be hard to find anywhere.
Il
The thriving little town of k
was quiet and peacefulin in the evening
twilight. The air was balmy and de-
ligbtful; the streets were thronged
with promenaders and all seemed gay
and happy. On one of the street
corners, sitting on an old box, was
ragged, dirty tramp. Many were the
glances of pity and contempt cast at
him. With his head bowed as if in
deep thought, he neither saw their
looks nor heard the expressions of
contempt of the passe:s-by. Perhaps
in memory he was a happy child
again, when life was as promising
and hopeful to him as it was to any
one of the gay-dressed crowd aroun d
him; or, perchance be was looking
back over his latter life, when hope
and joy alike had fed; or perhaps his
thoughts were dwelling on his present
life, over which the dark pail Of ad.
versity and despair hung that was
more ominous than the gloom Of
death. Perchance he was trying to
tear aside the veil of futurity and to
pierce the great unknown depth Of
future life. If these were or were not
bis thoughts, none but himself and
that Great Being who guides the des-
tinies of nations, and who can read
the innermost thoughts of man knew.
The darkness of night grew On
apace; the streets gradually became
deserted, save for few belated ped
estrians, who hurried past the silent
figure on the box.
The clock in neighboring tower,
struck 12,-midnight-still the figure
on the corner remained motionless;
again the clock struck, one, in notes
ttat echoed and reverberated on the
still night air. It's echoes had scarce
ly died away when wild cry of fire!
broke the Stiffness, which was taken
up and echoed and re. echoed through
the silent streets. The alarm bell
rang out it's loud, sonorous alarm,
and soon the streets were filled with
men and women, but partially cloth
ed and with blancbed faces, hurrying
to the scene of the conflagration.
With the first tap of the alarm bell
the ira mp raised his head and listen
ed, then stood up, and iustinctively
followed in the direction the people
were going. He had not far to go,
when be came upon the scene. A
large tbree.story frame dwelling
house was in flames. From the win
dows of the first and second floors great
volumes of smoke and flame rolled.
The fire bad got too much headway and
nothing could be done but stand idly
by and let it burn.
81 guess the family is safe," re-
marked an excited citizen to another.
II haven't seen his children yet,
or his nurse, and ! was about the
first one to get here; but they are all
out now or we would have known it
by this time. at any rate, If they are
not out they never will get out" re-
sponded the other citizen.
Just at this moment piercing
scream, that rose high and shril
above the roar of the flames, and froze
the blood OF the spectators. Glancing
up they beheld at one of the third
story windows three white faces, that
looked ghastly in the lurid glare of
the flames.
as it possible to save them?" cried
voice in the crowd. Not person
answered Women tainted and
strong men shuddered az they con-
templated their fate.
No ladder could be procured that
was long enough to reach that dis
tance, and the only means of assist
ance was through the front door and
up the stairway. Great volumes Of
smoke tinged with lurid flames were
even now pouring out of the door,
and the chance was O slim one.
"There is but one chance; ia there
O man here who will risk his life for
the sake of those children?" cried a
voice tremulous with emotion.
For moment n deep silence fell
upon that large assemblage and then
q voice rang out clear and distinct:
"Yes, / will" and the tramp clbowed
bis way through the crowd, "Give
me long, thin rope, and strong
one-be quick" he shouted. His hat
and coat were off now, and the on
lockers beheld once strong knit
form, but now reduced by hunger and
exposure; O high intellectual fore
head, and sharp penetrating eyes, in
which CLEANED determination to do
or die.
In moment the rope was placed
in his hands, and he dashed through
the dense smoke into burning build
ing and was gone.
A hush fell upon the assembled
multitude when he had disappeared.
Meanwhile the nurse aud the two
little girls had continued to scream